TERRACE DUET
FLORENCE (to herself)
THIS IS THE ONE SITUATION
I WANTED MOST TO AVOID
NOTHING I SAY WILL CONVINCE HIM THIS ISN'T A TRICK.
ANATOLY
A DRINK ON A CLEAR MOONLIT NIGHT - I RELAX, SHE SMILES
THERE'S SOMETHING PECULIAR GOING ON.
FLORENCE
SO, THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN, I'M IN IT WAY OVER MY HEAD
EMBARRASSED, OUTNUMBERED, MAROONED.
ANATOLY
NOW SHE CAN'T BE WORKING FOR THEM - I MEAN US -
SHE SEEMS SO VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD - BUT WHERE IS HE?
FLORENCE
HE HAS TO SHOW UP
IT CAN'T COME TO NOTHING -
PERHAPS IT CAN.
ANATOLY
MAYBE HE'S SCARED
BUT HE DIDN'T SEEM SCARED IN THE GAME.
FLORENCE
OH, I JUST COULDN'T CARE LESS
HE CAN GO RIGHT AHEAD GO AND WRECK HIS CAREER
I KNOW I'VE DONE MY BEST.
ANATOLY
WELL AT LEAST SHE'S A GOOD-LOOKING SPY
FLORENCE
WHAT IF MY RUSSIAN FRIEND THINKS THAT MY PLANS
HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CHESS?
IF I DON'T SAY SOMETHING AND SOON
HE'LL GO - MAYBE I'M ON NOBODY'S SIDE!
(At last he approaches her and takes her hand for a dance)
ANATOLY
LISTEN, I HATE TO BREAK UP THE MOOD
HOW DO YOU SAY, BEGIN THE BEGUINE
HAVEN'T YOU NOTICED WE ARE ONE CHARACTER SHORT
IN THIS IDYLLIC, WELL-PRODUCED SCENE?
FLORENCE (dancing with Anatoly)
HOW COULD I NOT, MISS VASSY REGRETS
ANYTHING GOES WITH YOUR OPPONENT.
ANATOLY
NEVER MIND HIM - I HAVEN'T MISSED HIM SO FAR
MAYBE IT WON'T DO ANY HARM
TO STRUGGLE ON WITHOUT HIS CHARM.
(Walter enters, unseen, and hovers nearby)
BOTH (more seriously)
FUNNY HOW ALL AT ONCE I FEEL
NOTHING ABOUT THIS MEETING MATTERS ANYMORE
(The light-hearted dancing turns into a long passionate embrace)
COCKTAIL CHORUS
THIS IS A TERRACE OF A THOUSAND STORIES
EACH ONE SO TYPICAL OF HUMANKIND
THEIRS IS NO DIFFERENT, BUT THEY DON'T MIND!
(The couple emerge from their embrace. Florence almost in shock. Anatoly obviously entranced. During the following the Chorus disperse to their rooms or each others’.)
FLORENCE
THIS IS THE ONE SITUATION
I WANTED MOST TO AVOID
ANATOLY
MY DEAR OPPONENT -
I REALLY CAN'T IMAGINE WHY
FLORENCE
YOU THINK I'M THE DANGEROUS KIND --
WELL, I AM!
ANATOLY
YOU -- YOU'RE NOT DANGEROUS --
WHO COULD THINK THAT OF YOU?
FLORENCE
YOU -- YOU ARE SO STRANGE --
WHY CAN'T YOU BE WHAT YOU OUGHT TO BE?
FLORENCE & ANATOLY
YOU SHOULD BE SCHEMING, INTRIGUING, TOO CLEVER BY HALF
ANATOLY
I HAVE TO HAND IT TO YOU --
FOR YOU'VE MANAGED TO MAKE ME
FORGET WHY I EVER AGREED TO THIS FARCE
FLORENCE & ANATOLY
I DON'T KNOW WHY I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING
I WOULD RATHER DO
THAN BE WASTING MY TIME WITH SOMEONE LIKE YOU.
(As song ends, Molokov and Freddie enter. Molokov is checking some papers but Freddie witnesses the extended kiss between Florence and Anatoly. Leaving Molokov, he confronts the duo.)
NO CONTEST
FREDDIE
WHO'D EVER THINK IT?
SUCH A VERY PRETTY SETTING!
TELL ME WHAT'S THE BETTING
VERY PRETTY PLOTTING TOO?
NO MATTER -
(indicating Molokov)
WE'VE DONE ALL YOUR WORK FOR YOU
(He approaches Florence)
WHO'D EVER GUESS IT?
DAUGHTER IN COLLABORATION
WITH THE VERY NATION
GAVE HER FATHER THIRD DEGREE!
WHERE'S DADDY? DEAD OR IN THE KGB?
(Molokov reacts to Freddie’s final words. Florence storms off. Freddie descends on Anatoly, intercepted by Walter. Molokov takes Anatoly aside)
WALTER (to Freddie)
YOU TAKE CARE, YOU DON'T LET
THEIR SHENANIGANS BLIND YOU
AND YOU'RE WRONG TO FORGET
YOU'VE GOT YOUR COUNTRY BEHIND YOU.
FREDDIE
YOU'RE A FOOL IF YOU THINK YOU CAN WAVE A FLAG
AND INSPIRE SOME DRAMATIC ACTION
IF I WANT BAD ENOUGH THEN IT'S IN THE BAG
IF I DON'T YOU'RE A MERE DISTRACTION.
(Walter and Molokov exit. The actions of Anatoly and Freddie are echoed in dance by the two warriors. The scene transforms into the chess arena during the following)
ANATOLY (turning on Freddie)
YOU TAUGHT ME FREDDIE
HOW THE FEW WHO WIN ACQUIRE
WHAT THEIR HEARTS DESIRE
IT'S NOT PRACTICE, IT'S NOT SKILL
THEY'LL HELP, BUT NOT AS MUCH AS LOVING WILL.
FREDDIE (challenging Anatoly)
NO CONTEST, COMRADE
PAY NO MIND TO REPUTATION
YOU WANT CONCENTRATION?
WHEN THEY PICK YOU OFF THE FLOOR
YOU’LL KNOW I WANTED IT A LITTLE MORE
ANATOLY
YOU CAN WIN YOU CAN LOSE
TAKE OR BE A POSSESION
YOU TAUGHT ME HOW TO CHOOSE
AND THE KEY IS OBSESSION
FREDDIE
SEE MY EYES, ARE THEY SAFE, ARE THEY EVEN SANE?
ARE THEY WARM WHEN THEY SEEM TO GREET YOU?
YOU DON'T KNOW, YOU CAN'T TELL, BUT IT SHOULD BE PLAIN
THESE ARE EYES THAT ARE GONNA BEAT YOU
DON'T EVER TELL ME
I DON'T KNOW THE WAY TO PLAY IT
DO I HAVE TO SAY IT?
DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU TRY
I HAVE HIM, YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE EYES
BOTH
NO CONTEST, COMRADE
BARELY ANY POINT IN PLAYING
WHEN IT'S JUST DELAYING
WHAT WE BOTH ALREADY KNOW
YOU LOST IT A WOMAN AND A HALF AGO...
(The tournament has re-assembled. Delegates, observers et al take up their places. Both men positioned as at the end of a game)
YOU LOST IT A WOMAN AND A HALF AGO!
(Anatoly makes the final move, and is declared the winner by the Arbiter.)